A new horizon opens up for young people with disabilities in the Italian capital thanks to the Bebe Vio Academy, an initiative that promises to transform the sports landscape. Created by the Paralympic foil champion, the academy aims to create an inclusive environment where children and young people, with and without disabilities, can practice sports together. This initiative will take place at the SapienzaSport sports center, with the support of Roma Capitale.
After the success of its first three years in Milan, where it involved approximately 180 kids, the Bebe Vio Academy is about to open its doors in Rome. The program offers participants, aged between 6 and 18, the opportunity to experience different Paralympic disciplines.
The main goal is for the kids to experience sports for a year and then continue in local gyms, promoting a culture of disability. As Bebe Vio stated during the presentation of the Academy, “The dream is to see kids practicing Olympic and Paralympic sports in any gym in Italy within five years.” The initiative is organized by the art4sport ONLUS Association in collaboration with Nike, aiming to make sport accessible to all.
In Rome, participants will be able to compete in six disciplines: athletics, integrated football, sitting volleyball, wheelchair fencing, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby. This last discipline is a novelty that has received the support of Martín Castrogiovanni. Castrogiovanni emphasizes the importance of inclusion: “We want to teach kids to see wheelchair athletes as more than just disabled people. Kids can change the future and this is the perfect way to introduce them to sports.” The program will start in the 2024/2025 season and will continue until May 2025 with two weekly training sessions. Luca Pancalli, president of the Italian Paralympic Committee (CIP), said that initiatives like this are essential for the Paralympic community.
As the Bebe Vio Academy takes shape in Rome, a clear vision emerges: promoting inclusion through sport can have a lasting impact on society. The hope is to build a future where every young person has the opportunity to practice physical activity without barriers. In this context, the academy represents not only a sporting opportunity but also a step towards greater awareness and acceptance of diversity in the world of sport.
Trump’s Tariff Plans: A Day-One Agenda Against Drug and Human Trafficking In a bold move to combat drug and human smuggling, President-elect Donald Trump has announced plans to impose significant tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China immediately after his inauguration on January 20.
Government Unveils “Get Britain Working” Initiative to Combat Unemployment In a bid to rejuvenate the UK job market, the government has introduced its ambitious “Get Britain Working” initiative, promising extensive reforms aimed at reducing the benefits bill and increasing employment.